SINGAPORE — Oil traded near 76 dollars in Asia on Friday, lifted by buoyant sentiment after the International Monetary Fund bumped up its global growth projections. Stronger demand in the United States, shown by a drop in crude inventories, also helped push prices higher, analysts said. In afternoon Asian trade, New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in August, was up 43 cents at 75.87 dollars a barrel, and Brent North Sea crude gained 38 cents to 75.09 dollars. The IMF on Thursday upgraded its global growth forecast for this year despite renewed financial turbulence stemming from Europe's debt crisis. It projected the world economy would expand by 4.6 percent, up from its 4.2 percent forecast in April, reflecting "stronger activity" during the first half of 2010 and expectations of fiscal action, especially in Europe. The fund maintained its 2011 growth forecast at 4.3 percent. Stronger world growth means greater demand for oil as economic activities expand. The market was also boosted by a report from the US Department of Energy showing that American crude oil reserves had plunged almost five million barrels in the week ending July 2, beating forecasts. And there was fresh US data showing a decline in the number of Americans registering for jobless benefits. "The economic outlook is not as bad as many now seem to assume," said Capital Economics analyst John Higgins, referring to the US economy. The pace of the rebound in the world's biggest economy "has shifted into a lower gear" but growth is likely to top 3.5 percent at an annualised rate in the second half of 2010, and be around 2.5 percent in 2011, he said in a market commentary. "This would be a far cry from a renewed slide into recession."

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